Earth anchor



Jan; 1, 1952 Filed June 10, 194'? A. A. HOCHER EARTH ANCHOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l dN VGEraliL & ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1952 A. A. HOCHER EARTH ANCHOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 194'? ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1952 A. A. HQcHER 2,580,915

EARTH ANCHOR Filed June 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I 34 i T 1 as 26 23 34 32 l a4 INVENTOR 63 04 V h fiwflmnv mhu 71 ATTORNEYS 1952 I A. A. HQCHER I 2,580,915

EARTH ANCHOR Filed June 10, 1947 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 'Il'IIIIIIIIIIII/Z,

' INVENTOR.

Jan. 1, 1952 A. A. HOCHER 2,580,915

EARTH ANCHOR Filed June 10, 194? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WMQH @0121, m

$ ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 Andrew A. Hocher, Glenshaw; Pa., assignor to Hubbard and Company, a corporationof Pennsylvania Application' Juiie 1o, 1947,-Serial No; 753,745 3 Claims. (01. 189-92") This invention relates to earth anchors and has: for an object to produce an earth anchor which is simpler to construct contains less metal, but which is as rugged and as effective in operation as other anchors now in use and known to me.

A further object is to produce an earth anchor in which the individualparts thereof are of simplified construction but co-operate in'suclr a way as to produce a rugged, strong and efie'ctive anchor which is, because of its structural simplicity, cheaper to produce than other anchors now on the market having like strength and durability.

A further object is to produce an earthanchor in which the metal, going into the makeup thereof, has been so distributed among the separate elements of the anchor as to produce a relatively light anchor which is as strong, durable and efi'ective as other" anchors of greater weight which are now in use.

A further object is to produce an earth anchor which to some extent combine'sthe characteristic features of the anchor disclosed by Taylor Patent 1,546,325 of July 14, 1 925,-and Wagner Pat-- ent 1,954,610, butwhich isa substantial improvement over both such anchors;

These and other objects are attainedby means of earth anchors embodying the features herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan viewof a-four-way earth an hor embodying my invention. The fluke's of the anchor being shown in the retracted or nested position. I I

Figure 2'is a sideview'of the" anchor shown in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a bottom, plan View of the anchor. i. e.,.a view looking in the direction of the arrows III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 3a is a side elevation of a guy-rod receiving sleeve'forming a detail of my invention;

Figure 4' is a top plan view of the anchor shown in- Figure I with the fluxes extended; i. e'., the anchor is expanded to the operating position.

Figures is aside view of the anchor shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI ofFigure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line VII-VII of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a single fluke,- suchas is preferabl-yemployed in an anchor assemblyhere illustrated as an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 9' is an end view of the fluke shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a, top plan view of an earth anchor embodying a modified form of my invention shown with the flukes retracted.

Figure 11 is a side view of the anchor shown in Figure 10. g

Figure 12 is a= bottom plan view of the anchor as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

v Figure 12a is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 6, but omitting some structural details, and illustrates a modifiedform of a nut-embracing member forming a detail of my invention.

Figure 12?) is a sectional view along the line XIIh-XIIb of Figure 12a.

Figure 13' is a top plan view of the anchor shown in Figures 10 to I22, inclusive, with the flukes extended.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the anchor as shown in Figure 13.

The anchor, constituting an embodiment of my invention, consists of a fluke supp'orting or base plate, a fluke-retaining element or plate spaced from said base plate, a rod-receiving and guiding member extending' through both such plates and limiting the maximum distance between the plates, at least one'pair 'of oppositely disposed flukes' located-between said plates" and each slotted toreceive said member, a rod-engaging cr'os'shea'd and a separate actuating link for each such fiukaopera'tivel'y connected to'said crosshead and the fluke. In one embodiment of my invention, the anchor is equipped Withtwo pairs ofoppositely disposed flukeswit-h the fiukes of one pair superimposed on those of the other pair and extending at right angles thereto.- In bothembodiments, the flukes of each pair are located in overlapping engagement with each other" and the flukes of each pair are located in crossed andinterfitting relationship, i. e., with the slots of the oppositely" disposed flukes of each pair intermeshing under conditions such that one lateral edge of one fiuke is located below the corresponding lateral edge of its com panion: fluke, whereas .the other lateral edge is located above the corresponding lateraledge of the companion fluke. In both embodiments; each flukeis preferably corrugated longitudinally, i. a, parallel to the member-receiving slot formed therein, and the corrugations are so arranged that-those of one fluke of each pair interfit with those-of the other fluke and oo-operatein such a way as to' constituteguiding elements which 3. prevent relative lateral shifting and relative turning of one fluke with relation to the other of each pair.

The base plate, forming a part of each em bodiment of my invention, is preferably corrugated with certain of the corrugations so positioned that they extend in the direction of and interfit with the corrugations of the fluke or flukes engaging that plate. The base plate of each embodiment is also flanged alon each lateral edge with the flanges so arranged as to prevent lateral shifting of the flukes of the pair located adjacent the plate. In the embodiment of the invention which includes two pairs of iiukes, these lateral flanges are preferably so posed pair and particularly as and when those nukes are extended to expand the anchor. In both embodiments of the invention, the rodguiding and receiving member is secured against turnin with relation to the base plate and the fluke-retaining plate is secured against turning with relation to the rod-guiding element. In both embodiments, the fluke-retainin plate is so formed that it co-operates with corrugations of the adjacent flakes and constitutes a guiding element for those fiukes as they are moved from retracted or nested position to the extended or expanded position.

In both types of anchor illustrated, I employ a nut-embracing enclosure which is, in some respects, similar to the corresponding structure forming a part of the anchor disclosed by the above-mentioned Wagner patent. That is to say, I employ structure which is secured to the base plate of the anchor, constitutes a housing for the retaining nut on the end of the guy rod associated with the anchor, and which not only prevents the nut from turning with relation to the base plate, but also secures the anchor to the guy rod in such a way that the anchor is prevented from movin longitudinally of the guy rod, for example, during the operation of introducing the rod and the anchor into the hole dug in the earthfor their reception. While the function and, to some extent, the structure of the nut-embracing enclosure, constituting a part of the invention, a base plate 20 is shown as corrugated so as to provide on its lower face two parallel ribs 2| and two transverse ribs 22. The ribs 2| extend longitudinally of the plate, and are spaced equal distances from the center of the plate. Each rib 22 is located adjacent one end of the plate and extends between the ribs 2|, thus stiffening the plate in both directions. It will also be apparent that the corrugations which produce ribs on the lower or bottom face of the plate 20 produce correspondingly located depressions or grooves in the upper face of the plate.

A rod-guiding and receiving member, shown in the form of a tubular sleeve 23, is located centrally with relation to the base plate 20. It is adapted to receive a guy rod to be associated with the anchor. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 23 extends through the base plate 20 and also through the base portion of a trough 24 which is secured to the lower face of the plate 20 and forms a part of a nut-embracing enclosure hereinafter described. The trough 24 is secured to the plate 20 by means of lugs 25 which project through apertures formed in the plate. These apertures are so positioned that the ends of the lugs 25 lie within the depressions opposed to the ribs 22 of the plate. The sleeve 23 also extends through a fluke-retaining element or plate 26 and its upper end is peened over so as to, in effect, form an annular flange which limits the movement of the plate 26 away from the plate 29, but does not obstruct the passage of the guy rod through the sleeve.

As shown in Figure 3a, the sleeve 23 is so formed, near its upper end, that it is provided with diametrically opposed lugs 21 which engage correspondingly located notches formed in the fluke-retaining plate 26 and prevent the plate from turning with relation to the sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve 23 is provided with lugs 28 which are adapted to be forged or otherwise distorted so that they lie against the base and also engage the side walls of the trough 24 and thus prevent the sleeve from turning with relation thereto. Thus the plate 26 is held against turning relatively to the base plate 20.

Figures 8 and 9 disclose a fluke 29 such as is employed in the preferred embodiment of my invention. The plan view of Figure 8 discloses that the fluke is substantially of the form of a truncated circle from which equal segments have been removed from diametrically opposite portions of the circle. The fiuke is also slotted longitudinally so as to provide a slot 3|] which extends from one end beyond the geometric center of the fluke. The fluke is also corrugated in a direction parallel to the slot 3|] so as to form two ridges on one face thereof and corresponding depressions or grooves in the other face. As shown, one ridge 3| is substantially larger (wider and deeper) than the other ridge 32, but the axes of the two ridges are equally spaced from the geometric center of the fluke. This spacing substantially corresponds to that of the ribs 2| of the base plate 20.

As shown in Figure 2, one pair of flukes are so located with relation to each other that each fluke of the pair engages the base plate 20. This relationship is accomplished by interfitting the slots 30 of the two dukes of the pair so that while each slot engages the sleeve 23, the flukes of the pair cross each other. Under such conditions, the larger ridge 3| of each fluke of the pair extends into the depression or groove formed in the upper face of the base plate 20 and corresponds to a rib 2|. The smaller ridge 32 of each fluke of the pair extends into the depression or groove corresponding to the ridge 3| of the other fluke of the pair. Thus the flukes cross so that each fluke of the pair engages the base plate adjacent one edge thereof. As is usual in earth anchors, the'flukes of each pair are oppositely disposed and adapted to be moved longitudinally of themselves, during the operation of extending the nukes, i. e.-, expanding the anchor.

' As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the base plate is provided along its lateral edges with upperwardly projecting flanges 200: which extend par allel tothe straight edges of the adjacent-nukes and which have a guiding action with relation to" those flukes as they are moved from retracted to extended positions. Each of these flanges. is also so formed that it is engaged by theflukes of the superimposed pair as those flukes are moved from retract-ed to extended positions; As is usual and as isdisclosed by the drawings, theiiukes of the superimposed pair extend. at right angles to the flukes of the pair which lie adjacent to the base plate. Under such conditions, the extending movement of the fiulzes of the superimposed pair is at right angles to the corresponding movement of the flukes'of theother'pa-ir.

Each. of the flukes of the superimposed pair is similar to the fluke illustrated. in Figures 8.- and. 9. They are also located in interfitting, crossed relationship as described in connection with the first-mentioned pair of nukes, It should, however, be notedthat while the ridges 3! and. 32 of the first-mentionedpa-ir of fiukes extend downwardly, or are located on the lower side of the flukes, the flukes of the superimposed pair are so positioned that the corresponding ridges 3! and 32 thereof extend upwardly. Thus, the uncorrugated portions of the dukes of the opposed pairs lie adjacent to. each. other and between the base plate and the fluke-retaining plate 25.

As. best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the: plate 26 not only limits the movement of the fiukes away from the base plate 2U but also constitutes a. guiding element for the flulzes of the superimposed pair. This is made more apparent in Figures l, 4, 6 and '7 whichdisclcse the co-operation between the lateral edge of the: plate 25 and the ridges 3| of the superimposed fluxes; The drawings also make. it apparent hat even when extended to the full expansioniposition,each fluke:

partially overlaps itscomp-anion fluke of the pair. In addition, the plate 2t is of. such length that it overlap-s a substantial. portion of. each of the superimposed. fiukes even when" those flukes are in the fully extended position. Thus, the plate 26, in co-operation'with the, sleeve. 23', constitutes a locking member which secures the ilukes. against displacement with relation to the base: plate, even when the fiukes are. fully extended. In this connection, it. is also'noted that the fiukes of the superimposedpair-overlap the dukes of the base plate-engaging pair when the flukes of both" pairs are fully extended. and, in this way; co-- operate with the plate 26 in preventing. displacement of the flukes of both pairs with relation to the base plate when extended and subjected to strain imposed on the anchor bya. guy rod.

As is usual, the earthanchors embodying my invention are equipped with a rod-engaging crosshead 33 and each fluke of the anchor is operatively coupled to the cross head by means of a link 34. The crosshead 33 and links 34 maybe of any desired formandtheir structuralv details donot constitute novel features of my invention. Lhowever, note that eachlink34 is pivotallysecuredto the crossheadand; as illustrated, is pivotally secured to One fluke by means of a U- shaped member 35 which is secured to the iiuhe by means of lugs which extend through apertures formed in the fluke. I also note thatv the relationship of the toggle links 34 to the associated fiukes is such thatwhen the crosshead 33 is it. is located immediately adjacent. to or: m: en-

The drawingsalso disclose that-the retaining nut is held in place between the side walls of the trough 24. As shown in the drawings and as previously stated, the trough 24 constitutes partof a nut-embracing. enclosure,- i. e, a partor a housing for the end of the guy rod 36- and the nutv secured. thereto; Each of the side walls of the trough isprovided at its end-with an outwardIy-turned flange 40 (Figures 2 and 5 to which a closure 4t rigidly secured, Thus, thetrough 24 andthe closure confine the nut 31 and limit longitudinal. movement of the guy' rod 3i: withrelation to the: base plate. 20:, and consequently with relation to the entire anchor assembly.

The closure 4 1' may beprovided. with an. aperture 42 for receiving. the extreme end of the guy rod. but the closure, of which: the part 4| forms a part,-. prevents the. anchor from. moving upwardly along. the rod during the operation of inserting the anchor and: the rod into. the hole dug in the: earthfor ther'ecep'tion of. the anchor and the rod; It-will. also be apparent that if it is desired" to remove the. guy rod from the earth after the anchor is buried, the nut-embracing enclosure will hold the nut 31 stationary during 1 the operation of turning the guy rod and. thus disengage itfrom the nut as; a preliminary to withdrawing. therod from the earth. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 5,. each lateral edge of the closure .4! is'so formedv that it overlaps and partially. envelops a flange: 40 and,,. in this way, rigidly and permanently secures the closure tothe trough 24; Ihaveya-lso providedaflange Ma along one edge of the part 41,.which, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, projects upwardly between lateral walls of the trough}! andconstitutes. a strengthening rib for the part 4!. The flange l-ta may also cooperate with the side walls of vention may be stamped or otherwise formedfrom plate-like metal such. as steel, The base plate may be, and preferably is, made from plate steel and this is true of the fiukes, the fluke retaining plate 28,. the links 34 and even-a portion of the crosshead. As. clearly inchcated by the drawings, the nut-embracing enclosure is of a formwhich may be stamped from plate-or sheetlike material of suilicient gauge to: ensure the requisite strength. Thetrough portion 2 is separately formed from the closure 4| but is secured to that part as described and both are secured to the: base plate.

The anchor illustrated in- Figures 10 to 14, inclusive, is similar, in many respects. to the anchor previously described, It' includes a base plate 43 which forms a: supportfor the single pair of flukes. The base plate is, however, substantially circular in form, as is shown in Figures 12 and 13, but is corrugated toform ribs 21a and 22a similar. to the: ribs previously described in connection with the base plate 20. A rod-guiding sleeve-'23 is located atthe center 0! the: base: plate 43- and; as: previously described}.

in connection with the first disclosed embodiment of my invention, extends through the base plate, the iioor or base portion of the trough 24 and a fluke-retaining plate, thus contributing to the fabrication of the difierent elements of the anchor into an integral structure. The flukeretaining plate is, however, of somewhat different form from that of the plate 26 and is designated in the drawings by the numeral 45.

In the embodiment illustrated, the flukes 45 are somewhat similar to the flukes illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, except that they, like the base plate, are substantially circular in form. Each such fluke is, however, provided with a slot 41 which extends from its circumferential edge to a point beyond the center of the fluke and is of sufiicient width to receive the sleeve 23. These slots are similar in form and function to the slots 39 of the fiukes 29 heretofore described. The opposed fiukes of the pair are located in interfitting and crossed relationship and the corrugations of one fluke of the pair interfit and cooperate with the corrugations of the other fluke in a mutual guiding operation and also in preventing the fiukes from turning with relation to each other. It should, however, be noted that each fluke is so formed as to provide an upwardly projecting lug 48 thereon which is adapted to co-operate with a shoulder 49 formed on the plate 45 in limiting the extension movement of the fluke. As shown in Figure 13, the plate 45 is of irregular shape in that it is provided on opposite edges with the oppositely facing shoulders 49. Under such conditions, the lug 48 of one fluke engages one such shoulder and the lug 48 of the other fluke simultaneously engages the other shoulder when the fiukes arrive at the fully extended position, thus preventing an over-expansion of the anchor.

It will be understood that the modified form of my invention includes a crosshead 33, links 34 and a nut-embracing enclosure such as described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will also be understood that the sleeve 44 may be similar to the sleeve 23. and may, if desired, be provided with lugs 28 which function to secure the sleeve in place on the base plate and to aid in securing the trough 24 on that plate.

In Figures 12a and 12b I have disclosed a somewhat modified relationship between the trough 24 and the rod-guiding sleeve 44. As there illustrated, the base of the trough 24 is so formed that it is not only capable of being rigidly secured to the base plate 43 but also covers the lugs 28 of the sleeve 44 when in place on the base plate. With this arrangement the base of the trough performs the functionof a washer with relation to the nut 31 secured to the guy rod 38. That is to say, the base of the trough is provided with an aperture having a diameter approximating, but somewhat greater than the diameter of the guy rod so that the base of the trough provides a seat of maximum surface for the nut 31. By this arrangement, the strain occasioned by the pull of the guy rod is more uniformly distributed to the base plate than is the case where the nut 3! seats on the bent over lugs 28, as shown, for example, in Figures 6 and '7.

In the modified structure, the sleeve 44 passes through the fluke-retaining plate 45, the slots and the base plate 43, as previously described. The lugs 28 are, however, peened over so that they engage thelower faceof' thehbase plate 43, thus securing the two plates 43 and 45 together. The trough is then secured to the base plate in the manner previously described and, as shown in Figures 12a and 1221, the base portion of the trough may be so formed as to provide a recess therein for receiving the peened over lugs 28. With such an arrangement, the end portions of the trough base contact the adjacent portions of the base plate 43.

While I have described but two embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes, additions, omissions and modifications may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an earth anchor. a base plate having a centrally located guy rod-receiving aperture formed therein, provided with an upstanding flange along each lateral edge thereof and corrugated to provide two longitudinally extending ribs thereon, located on opposite sides of said aperture and each extending substantially parallel to said flanges; a rod-receiving sleeve in register with the aperture of said plate secured to said plate and extending upwardly between said flanges; a pair of oppositely disposed, overlapping fiukes arranged in crossed interfitting relationship and located on said base plate between said flanges, each such fluke being slotted to receive said sleeve and being longitudinally corrugated with one corrugation of each fluke intermeshing with a corrugation of the other fluke and with another corrugation of each fluke intermeshing with a corrugation of said base plate; a second pair of oppositely disposed, overlapping fiukes arranged in crossed interfitting relationship and superimposed on said first mentioned pair and extending at right angles thereto; each such superimposed fluke being slotted to receive said sleeve and corrugated longitudinally to provide ribs on the upper face thereof with the corrugations of each such fluke intermeshing with the corrugations of the other fluke of the pair and with each such fluke engaging the upper edge of one of said upstanding flanges; a fluke retaining plate operatively secured to' said sleeve above said fiukes and engaging each of the fiukes of the second pair with each lateral edge thereof contacting one of the ribs formed on one of said superimposed flukes throughout the length of such plate; a crosshead apertured to receive a guy rod and a separate toggle link operatively coupling each of said flukes to said crosshead.

2. In combination in an earth anchor, a base plate having an upstanding flange along each lateral edge thereof, a guy rod-receiving aperture formed therein midway between said flanges and corrugated to form longitudinally extending ribs on the lower face thereof. located on opposite sides of said aperture and extending substantially parallel to said flanges; a rod receiving sleeve secured to said base plate with the opening therethrough registering with the aperture of said plate; a pair of oppositely disposed overlapping flukes arranged in crossed interfitting relationship, supported by said base plate and located between said flanges, each such fluke being slotted to receive said sleeve and being longitudinally corrugated with one corrugation of each fluke intermeshing with a corrugation of the other fluke and with another corrugation of each fluke intermeshing with a corrugationiof said base plate; a second pair of oppositely disposed overlapping flukes arranged in crossed interfitting relationship and superimposed on said first mentioned pair with each fluke of said second pair resting on at least one of said flanges and slotted .to receive said' sleeve and corrugated longitudinally to provide ribs on the upper face thereof with each corrugation of such fluke intermeshing with a corrugation of the other fluke of the second pair; and a fluke retaining plate apertured to receive said sleeve and secured to said sleeve in nonturning relationship With said base plate and with each lateral edge thereof in engagement with a rib formed on one of said second pair of fiukes throughout the length of such fluke retaining plate.

3. An earth anchor comprising a base plate; four flukes supported in superimposed relationship on said plate and arranged in two pairs with the fiukes of each pair oppositely disposed and 20 located in overlapped, crossed, interfitting relationship, each such fluke being slotted with the slot of one fluke of each pair interfitting 10 with the slot of the other fluke of the pair; the fiukes of at least the superimposed pair being corrugated to provide ribs extending throughout the length thereof and parallel to the slot therein; a fluke retaining plate engaging both flukes of the superimposed pair with each lateral edge thereof in guiding relationship with a rib of one such fluke; and a guy rod retaining sleeve extending through the slots in the fiukes and through said plates and securing the plates in spaced and non-turning relationship to each other.

ANDREW A. HOCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1.546327 Taylor July 14, 1925 1,786,228 Chance Dec. 23, 1930 2,427,934 Tallman Sept. 23, 1947 

